If you want to know what art tastes like, come to Cafe Rowan. The chef is an absolute master of his craft. From the incredibly aesthetic presentation, to the insanely creative flavor profile. This is a foodie's paradise. Oh and the drinks are f*%#ing amazing. read more

Cafe Rowan - Lobster eggs benny - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Been eager to try this place for a long time based on reviews. We got the lox eggs Benedict and the huckleberry French toast. Presentation was beautiful. I should have taken a picture. Service was prompt and friendly. Everything was delicious but pricey. I'd suggest glasses if you have a hard time reading as the menu is probably 8 or 10 size font. read more

First time trying this place & it's def a new favorite. If your looking for authentic brunch in Portland this is your spot. Hands down best ham eggs Benedict in all of Portland - not too saucy, not too dry just perfect. The service is incredibly nice and the chef really knows his stuff. Even treated us to some delicious crab rolls! Check this place out people!!!!!! read more

Cafe Rowan - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Portland, Oregon

The best neighborhood spot, we're so lucky to have Cafe Rowan in our hood. The best brunch, drinks, coffee and service. Everyone is so nice, the vibe is lively and they go above and beyond to make the food/drinks so special. The menu is unique, high quality and healthy. The food is gorgeous and delicious. It is a treat to come here. I always get the lobster roll and a specialty coffee drink. Today we came for a cocktail and one of our drinks was just a little late but they more than made up for it with a generous treat. Thank you for the best service ever! read more

Well, I heard some people talkin' about The Emily And they said you were gonna put me on The Dame But let me tell you, I got some news for you And you'll soon find out it's true That dining out is still in the game 'Cause I'm Cafe Rowan And I'm feelin' strong I will sing this victory song Woo, hoo, hoo, my my woo, hoo, hoo The wickets that we're stuck with Make me stop and wonder why But I guess they felt like they had to set things right Just remember this, when you look up in the sky You can see the Eagles and still not see the light And I'm Cafe Rowan And I'm eatin' strong I will sing this victory song Woo, hoo, hoo my my, woo, hoo, hoo Well I know it wasn't you who held me down But who knew it would be you who set me free So oftentimes it happens That we live our lives in chains And we never even know we have the key Already, I'm Cafe Rowan And I'm friendly to dogs Summer Smoothies all daylong Awaken, Focus, Detox, and Recharge read more

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First impressions mean soooo much! First and foremost the customer service was extremely refreshing. From the moment I walked in, I felt welcomed into a warm environment. I had a little mix up on my order, I mistakenly ordered a dish that included an ingredient that I do not consume and they graciously made a new dish for me. I ultimately had the best avocado toast of my life! And I had a matcha latte. I'm not really a matcha person, so I haven't had enough to give a true rating. All in all, the overall vibe and aesthetic was superb. 10/10 highly recommend! read more

Best meal we had in Portland! Will come back here every time we are in town! I had the lobster grits and my mom had the Emily breakfast sandwich. We split a bananas foster French toast. Coffee was also great! read more

Cafe Rowan - Lobster grits - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Took a drive to east Portland for Sunday Brunch. Cute lil place, very minimalistic, lots of plants, and clean. Had signs, sanitizer, and social distancing rules all over the cafe so we felt safe to dine-in, but there's also a bunch of tables outside as well. I got the Dame breakfast sandwich and it was so damn good! Very rich combination of the sausage patty and sauces. Bonus that the bun was crispy. The sandwich was still steaming when I had my last bite. My boyfriend had the green eggs bowl and based on the description, he had thought it was scrambled eggs with a side of veggies but in reality it was the opposite. Filling and healthy indeed. My only critique is that the chai latte we ordered was too watered down, not a whole lot of chai flavor. I would've asked for them to remake but they had lots of customers during that time. read more

Cafe Rowan - The Dame breakfast sandwich *caution HOT* - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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I found this place through TikTok. We were looking for a brunch spot. I wanted to try a more modern take on brunch. The food was interesting. I ordered the Green Eggs Bowl with bacon. Appearance wise, it looked great, I can see the care put in to the plating and the aesthetic. As for the flavor, it was quite underwhelming. There was a lot of texture to the dish with all the varieties of greens, but all I really tasted was acidity. They called the sauce "salsa verde" but all I got was lemon juice. The dish would've been great if it included a bit more salt, some sort of peppers or green chiles, and maybe a bit of cheese. The only way I got some salt in the dish was with the bacon add-on that I had to incorporate with every bite to get a bit of flavor. As for service, very typical order at counter, bus your own table experience and little to no interaction with staff, seems to be the norm as of today. Overall, not horrible, I just expected more. Prices are average and not overly expensive, the napkins were awful, I think they care more about appearances than anything. read more

Just had a pork and kimchi eggs Bennie - which sounded crazy enough to be good...and it was amazing. Everything that comes out of the kitchen is a treat for the eyes and taste buds. Coffee was delicious. Service was sweet. What more do you need for a good brunch? read more

New cafe in the Creston-Kenilworth neighborhood serving fresh and delicious breakfast sandwiches, fancy toast, salads, lunch fare, vegan pastries and burritos. They have a good menu of power smoothies, coffee, alcohol and Steve Smith teas. There's indoor and outdoor seating and they have a 25 customer limit indoors during COVID with sanitized menus, hand sanitizer and social distancing. My husband and I are very excited to have a solid breakfast and lunch spot so close to home. read more

Cafe Rowan - Food menu - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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I don't really have anything bad to report. The food is really tasty. I had the Crab Benedict. The people who work there are kind. I do find it a little pricey, so I don't go there very often. I know...everything is pricey these days, but, still... read more

This place exceeded expectations!! We were seated by the owner and were given a background of the restaurant and insight on what the highlight items on the menu were. We went for the banana foster and harvest burrito and were blown away. The ingredients feel thoughtful constructed and sourced. The staff were also incredibly nice. This will be on our regular rotation for breakfast spots! read more

Great service and wonderful food here at Cafe Rowan! This is one of the places I've seen that really take precautions in terms of their social distancing. Lots of outdoor seating and ample space outside. We loved the Emily and the Dame sandwiches. The buns were toasted perfectly and it had a great mix of flavors. We also got the caprese salad which was the weekend special, that was very refreshing and light! read more

Cafe Rowan - Caprese salad - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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Yuuummmmm! Everything was so good. I had curried chicken and requested lettuce as a base instead of bread. They were happy to accommodate and the salad was healthy as well as delicious. My almond milk latte was perfect, and the sourdough chocolate chunk cookies were a hit. We will definitely be back! read more

Cafe Rowan - Curried chicken with lettuce subbed for bread. Crunchy cashews, watermelon radish, golden raisins, and micro greens made this extra good. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Portland, Oregon

The food was fantastic! Perfect brunch spot and nice vibes. The patio was open with no wait, but there was decent wait times indoors. The lobster roll was delicious and buttery, the Bananas Foster French Toast was the perfect way to finish the meal! read more

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I've been to Cafe Rowan 3 times and each visit I am impressed. I've tried their smoothies, brunch specials, and breakfast sandwiches. Their smoothies are a bit pricey for me, but nothing more expensive than the ones at South Waterfront where I work. Plus, the ingredients taste fresher and I feel better dropping $7.50 for a smoothie at a small business than at a chain. The 2nd time I went was for brunch with my girlfriends and ohhhh my god the shrimp + grits were SO FLAVORFUL! They don't skimp on the shrimp and it was beautifully plated (please excuse my extremely millennial instagram photo). My friends had the breakfast sandwiches and were pleasantly surprised. My brother and I had The Emily on another visit and it was delicious, though my brother wished the meat was less dry. I consider Cafe Rowan to be a place where I go to treat myself when I've had a hard week. They continue to deliver on flavor and quality, and I'm always telling my friends to try it! read more

Cafe Rowan - Shrimp + grits - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Portland, Oregon

This is a contemporary cafe that has a neighborly feel but elegant presentation in the dishes from the kitchen. It's casual so you order at the counter but what I appreciate is that the kitchen is pretty quick, so the food comes out fast. I like almost any of their eggs benedicts, but their signature is the crab benedict. I first tried it when it was dungeness crab season, and it was delicious and delicate in flavor and execution. Then recently went back and looks like they were using snow crab, but it was just as delicate and plentiful in crab meat. (EDITED TO FIX, 10/6/22: Heard from the owner that they only serve dungeness crab so it's not snow crab that I had but dungeness. Good to know, either way it was tasty.) The eggs were poached perfectly and of course there were a lot of hollandaise sauce, but also some countering flavors of vinegrette to cut into the richness. Just a note that they don't use English muffins but toast, so it's actually more a crab toast with hollandaise. The servers are friendly and nice. I think the only reason I held back a star is the unpredictability of the scheduling for brunch. For awhile they cut back and was only doing it during the weekends, when it can get busy. So when I wanted a nice weekday lunch, I often would arrive to find it closed. They seem to be back to a more consistent schedule, but I would still check if you're going any time during the weekdays. read more

Cafe Rowan - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Portland, Oregon

ambiance: 5/5 Food: 4/5 vibe: 5/5 an overall good place to be. We had one Green Eggs Bowl, avocado toast, and breakfast burrito. a couple of my friends were pure vegetarian they don't eat eggs too so they customized all the plates and made them based on our preferences. We loved this place. I would recommend coming here. read more

So this may be my favorite brunch stop right now! I love every food offering they have and the ambiance is clean, light, easy - a delight! Parking can be a bear which has had me abort going at times. My only true complaint is the owner - he has had many interactions with me and they have been dismissive, rude, condescending and straight up inconsiderate. It is weird because the staff are great and they are usually who I interact with but he often comes in and berates them, corrects them, corrects me, just injects themselves in an awkward and unkind manner. They have even apologized several times to me when they have recognized on their own their behavior was rude. I just try to steer clear of them so I can enjoy my meal. I have had others who have shared the same experiences as me with the owner - maybe they should stay back of the house. The lobster roll, the seafood roll specials and the polenta bowl are all standouts! I drive across town when I get a hankering! read more

Cafe Rowan - Bananas foster French toast - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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Benedict was out of this world. Lobster roll is great but a little small. My visiting family loved it.

Great spot for brunch in Portland! The food was wonderful and the ambiance was so very chill. read more

Cafe Rowan - Crab Eggs Benedict with Mocha - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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First time here was a great experience. I was told that the breakfast sandwiches are some of the best in Portland. I ordered The Emily and was not disappointed. It was delicious ! Ordered my food from Spencer, the owner, they were very friendly and made the space welcoming. Looking forward to trying the other food options. Thanks ! read more

Phenomenal! Had the lobster grits and dungeness crab benedict - blood orange mimosas. Possibly the best brunch we've ever had.

Okay, so our review is based on our brief experience here at Cafe Rowan. We heard amazing things about this restaurant and we're excited to try it. The manager/host was friendly and kind. The interior was clean up until you look into the kitchen area. The cook was rubbing his hands through his hair, touching his face, even touching his phone and didn't think to wash his hands or change gloves . A bit unsanitary unfortunately. read more

CAFE ROWAN // when I say this lobster roll blew my mindddd y"all! You have to get it, when you are here! Although it looked a bit funny, with a huge price of lobster meat sticking out, it was so flavorful and buttery. My partner got the Crab Benedict. I tasted it and it was delicious and satisfying but not in typically heavy brunch way! We were still hungry though so ordered the Rowan, a breakfast sandwich topped with blueberry jam. That one was a bit of a miss for me as I felt like it needed some salty-ness to balance it out but quiet tasty anyway! Another highlight was the perfectly made latte and fresh fruit mimosa which added to our meal. Overall the food tastes as good as it looks! We went right when they opened in order to snag a spot as it gets busy on weekends. They also host high end pop up dinners that you can buy tickets for periodically. Check em out this weekend and visit their Instagram @caferowan read more

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I got the shrimp and grits with lobster it was delicious. It had so many different flavors happening. It was sweet but yet save raves so good. The mushroom toast we got was good but not as good as the grits because I'm not vegan so I don't eat cashew cheese and it may been better with some like wild mushrooms or just different types of mushrooms but overall this is a hands-down great place to eat, and the service was impeccable read more

Update to my update: I received a more professional response after I updated my review to show their response. I have added the screen shots of those messages to their review. I would like to point out a few things: 1) I did not see a 72 years young woman. What is her secret? 2) I have few reviews because this is Portland, people don't need help finding good food here they need help avoiding bad food. When I write a bad review I will return to the location a few weeks/months later and if the experience is good, I will remove my review. The 3 inimical messages I received killed any chances of me ever returning. 3) I never asked for a refund. I ate the food that was served to me and that is worth something. I am updating this review to show how they respond to a bad review. Am I really suppose to believe they would have been "the nicest staff in portland about it"? When I already seen them make the people next me move when I realized the wrong food was served to me? Also "making things right" would not have change the eggs being over cooked, the hollandaise barely existing, the mimosa not existing, and the fact that you over charge for barely middle of the road food in a city where better can be had for cheaper and the management does not send 3 incredibly hostile messages in the space of 15 minutes. I'll grant that I did write a bad review but that bad review could have been taken down or updated had whoever Spencer is been a bit more professional. Now its being updated because Spencer does not know how to be a professional let alone deal with people. I feel bad for anyone who works for him, if this is how he treats customers imagine how he treats his staff, which could explain how they don't know how to do their jobs... I'll sum this up, over priced, you literally don't get what you paid for, shitty music, and service level that's lower than a food truck/fast food. This place is a little confusing. The prices suggest there would be actual servers but there aren't any. They tell you to stand outside to look at the menu but when you go in after looking at the menu no one tells you that you have order at the counter that's tucked away in the pack and next to the exit not the entry. Again for the prices you expect at least a server to tell you what to do, although for those prices you also expect a server to take your order at the table. Then you order a crab eggs benedict and mimosa, GET CHARGED for a crabs eggs benedict and mimosa, and you get a plain ham eggs benedict and no mimosa. You get a number and told to sit at a table, although they'll ask you to move, like they did to the people sitting next to me. I was alone and half expected them to ask me to move to a smaller table outside when a couple walked in. The wait time for the food wasn't bad, although like I said I didn't get what I ordered, but the music was so horrid I had to put my ear phones in to get a break from it but it was playing so loudly I could still hear it over my spotify. Now I can say the eggs benedict was good as long as you like over cooked eggs and a suggestion of hollandaise sauce. Since I wasn't asked how I wanted my eggs assumed it would be the standard soft poach but in got solid dry yolks. From the dribbling of hollandaise sauce that I got, I would say it was delicious just wish I had more than a suggestion of it. After eating food priced at a point where you'd expect a waiter, you would think there's be someone to bus the table for you but instead you get asked to bus your own table. Cool, exactly what I want to do, stick my hand in a disgusting bin of other peoples dirty dishes after paying for food I did not get to eat and a drink I did not get drink. I had to pay at the counter when I ordered so I tipped the staff way more than they deserved for doing nothing but get me the wrong food and not serve me a drink I paid for. And no I did not speak to what front of the house staff there was as I was a customer and it is not my job to train the staff of a business how to do the preschool level parts of their job. read more

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Great food, ok service, ok ambiance, ok service. I'd prefer a table service. They sat us right next to the water station and right behind the cashier line so it wasn't the most comfortable dining experience. We got there 10 mins before they open on sat and there were already a couple of ppl lining up at the door. The food was great but wasn't my cup of tea. The flavor seems to be one dimensional. Presentation is 10/10. read more

As I head my way to Cafe Rowan again after trying the Dungeness Crab Roll and a Lobster Roll sample last time and meeting Spencer the ( Chef/ Owner) I was already thinking of what to eat on this visit. I narrowed it down to two entrees: Shrimp & Grits or the Dungeness Crab Benedict. Not being able to choose I opted to ask Spencer again what to have? I told him to pick and I'd try the other next time. He's very approachable and friendly. A few minutes later he brings out the Shrimp & Grits that he made himself no less. The shrimp & grits consisted of blackened shrimp, tillamook white cheddar, oregon white truffle corn grits, bacon shallot jam, shaved green onions, cotija cheese, avocado, smoked paprika oil and spring blossoms. Talk about a home run of flavors. Without getting into much detail, it is my personal favorite version in town. I reference to the Yelper and I use that term loosely, if you have a problem with the food or service you at least give the ownership a chance to fix it before belittling them on Yelp. Enough said. Run don't walk if you haven't tried this wonderful establishment. Happy eating and stay safe. read more

Cafe Rowan - Shrimp & Grits top view - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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You order at the counter which is efficient. We shared a lobster roll and crab Benedict. We ordered a blackberry mimosa and a blood orange mimosa which unfortunately they forgot to bring out. Once they realized the mistake they brought out doubles. Thank you for that. Everything was fantastic and a fun atmosphere. read more

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Do you need make an Instagram post? Maybe about food? This is the place. What can I say? The toast was burnt and coupled with a hollandaise sauce more watered down and transparent than the gentrified culture of SE Portland. Likewise, it is a well presented bouquet of food pleasing to the eye of you and your neighbor. Beneath the drapery though there is very little. It's surprising to me that food could be so hollow and also leave me feeling bloated like Denny's. Ultimately, if I didn't need to pay $17 for a breakfast burrito, I wouldn't be writing this review. read more

Wow. Such a pleasure to have brunch here. The Korean benedict is the best thing I've had in a while. Shared that and a delicious Bananas Foster French toast. SOOOOO GOOOOOD . And mimosas are done right. Very happy. read more

Cafe Rowan - Korean Benedict - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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Love this place, it's definitely worth trying it out! Best thing, no long wait!!! I've had crab eggs Benedict, Jaman Benedict and a lobster roll with a vanilla late. All were so delicious! The restaurant was nice, clean and bright and offers local art for sale. This is a self clean location so remember to bus your own table. read more

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When I go to any shop I really have high standards for coffee.. I've been in the coffee industry for over 4 years, now and when I do review any shop I'm fully honest. Now this shop blew my mind on how simple and gorgeous this shop is. The coffee was excellent! The food is out of the world!! The staff was so heart warming and welcoming! So proud of this shop to pull through the pandemic and come out with great coffee and great food.! Definitely go check this place out!:) read more

Cafe Rowan - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Portland, Oregon

It's okay. Not the best--despite its listing in some best-of-Portland weekend brunch list. I guess because of that I was expecting to be dazzled. Where are the suitcases? This place has all the ambiance (and space) of an airport eatery. Friendly staff. My order of shrimp and grits was small and expensive. It's an okay neighborhood cafe. Friendly, though. Order yourself, pickup yourself, bus yourself. Limited parking on a Sunday morning. read more

Great food and service. Caterer baby shower we had the best 4 course meal for our guest. Enjoyed by all ! The owner and Staff very friendly and best service. read more

We had a very nice breakfast this morning. The food came out pretty quick and looking good. Very delicious overall! read more

Cafe Rowan - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Portland, Oregon

The food here is delicious and this is legitimately the only place in Portland where I have ever had a decent lobster roll. Absolutely delicious and fun cocktails and the staff are delightful. It is a fast casual sort of format where you order at the counter and then the food is delivered to your table, but the ambience is more upscale than that. The food preparation process moves quickly. They also sell the best hot sauce I have ever had in my life! Nice outdoor seating area in front if that's your jam. read more

So good my wife and I came back a 2nd day in a row (something we've never done at any place before) during our weekend visit to Portland. Everything we had was incredible, from the food to the drinks! My wife had a crab Benedict the first day and lobster Benedict (the weekend special) the second day. She absolutely loved both, and she is a harsh judge of seafood. I had the huevos rancheros, one of the breakfast sandwiches, and the French toast. If we are ever in Portland again, you can bet we are coming back here for a 3rd time! read more

Cafe Rowan - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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